For spring break this year we went to Santa Rosa beach on the Florida panhandle. The morning we left it was 23 degrees so it felt pretty heavenly to be able to bask in the southern sun!
Last year we were intending to go to Florida as well, but the pandemic struck and we cancelled our reservations just before we would have left, so it felt very full circle to be here on spring break, fully vaccinated.
A quick bathroom stop (I think this was our only one!) that had me rethinking our plans to drive straight through...someday I want to go to the space and rocket center! (This was the Alabama welcome center; they also had a huge rocket in the parking lot.)
We had the cutest little rental totally surrounded by palm trees...it looked so idyllic and picture-perfect!
It had balconies from every possible angle and one particular one off the living room overlooking a lake, where Matthew spent a LOT of time hanging out with binoculars trying to spot an alligator (there were no alligators, but we did not want to ruin his fun!).
I loved the walk to the beach every morning.
We drove down on Friday and went to the beach right away. When we got up on Saturday, it was pretty chilly (maybe mid-50s? PERFECT running weather; I ran 6 miles along 30A and just marveled at all the beauty) and then we decided to go hiking at Topsail Beach State Park while we waited for it to warm up a bit. (Sidenote: I am REALLY proud of myself bc I worked out every day that week--usually I start strong on vacations and fizzle hard. The cooler temps definitely helped; by the end of the week when it was actually beach weather I thought I was going to dissolve into a puddle by the end of my run.)
I loved this hike so much!! We learned a ton about all the different plants growing along our path and talked animatedly about how different they were from other places we've hiked.
So I took a picture to commemorate that exact moment and here it is.
Then we rode the beach trolley back to our car and changed into swimsuits at the house so we could listen to the second session at "our" beach.
On Monday our friends arrived!
Every morning the big kids started out digging a giant hole; I do not know why.
Three of the dads boogie-boarding (poor Andy started to go out and his one-year-old son just went ballistic crying for him...),
I took a picture to prove I was there! I meant to get a picture with my friend since we both wore the same suit that day, but...I never did. I'm sure we will have plenty of chances this summer!
Matthew spent four hours one day floating around in this tube digging for clams with his "tiny toesies." It was soooo cute.
Tons of Oreos--the best beach food!
Basically how we all felt at the beach after pandemic winter, haha.
We had a bonfire one night, which was so fun!
I asked Isaac to snap this photo of the moms one day--this is the first one he took; the rest are a progression of Luke looking like Godzilla (he's right behind my shoulder in this one).
I made a quadruple batch of gauffres de Liege (aka sugar waffles) one night and this was the only thing big enough to knead the dough in.
Adults dinner one night--it was AMAZING to have weather warm enough for outdoor dining and we took full advantage of it! This was such a fun night and we had a great time together.
The reason for the daily hole becomes clear!!
Jules looking about six feet tall--this girl is growing so fast.
I snapped this one of Matthew curled up next to Abigail--he kept squirming closer and closer to her trying to get warm and I loved her expression.
Matthew half asleep in my arms--the first few days it was pretty chilly in the morning/late afternoon!
The three little boys--they were SO adorable!
The older kids spent a lot of time at one or another of the beach rivers, catching crabs and little fish.
Such dreamy sunsets, and such a lovely week!
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